Big Rust Bucket Project Truck

November 10, 2015

Nearly a year ago, I decided I could really take advantage of having a pickup truck complement our fleet of cars. Trash picking, hardware store runs, and transporting bicycles will all be easier with a truck. So I started looking.

Wanting something cheap that would hold its value, I scoured Craigslist for over 9 months. Then I came across a listing for three trucks for cheaper than most of the ones I’d been to see. I ended up buying two, with the second one as a donor for parts as well as a reference.

The Big Rust Bucket

A 36 year old truck that doesn’t look a day over 50…

So here’s what the truck is. A 1979 Ford F150 Custom 4×4 with a short bed. It’s got an automatic transmission and a 4-inch body lift with 35-inch tires. As you can see from the pictures, I have my work cut out for me.

She’s a rust bucket, so I’m leaning toward naming her Big RB. I’ve never worked on a rust bucket before, and it’s a daunting task. But I’m excited for what she could become.

The Plan

My first goal is to get her inspected and back on the road. That means fixing what’s broken, replacing fuel and brake lines, filling any holes, and tuning up the engine. If it doesn’t rain much, I think we might be done by December. Here’s hoping.

After she’s safe and legal, I plan on doing little projects every chance I get. I’d love to see new body mounts, better paint, and a reupholstered interior by spring.

As for colors, I’m not sure. Right now I’m leaning toward gray and black. But we’ll see how it goes. Photo gallery of bringing them home below.

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About Me

Believer, husband, father, designer, DIY'er

I've been designing websites for over 15 years. I serve small businesses near Bucks County, PA at Recharge Creative. I'm addicted to YouTube & fixing things, and I try very hard not to post too many photos of my daughter on Instagram.